Sharing News
Georg and Harold had been so engaged in conversation neither realized they were already entering Merion. Harold now had to slow down as he drove down Merion Road to Georg's home.
Harold stopped the car in front of Georg's home. Before Georg opened the car door, Harold asked.
"Will I see you in church on Sunday?"
"You know you will. We'll probably go to the nine o'clock Mass; seven forty five is too early for us. Kurt will be famished but he won't die from hunger."
"My son was the same way. Enjoy the remainder of your day."
"I will."
And Georg walked briskly towards the front door of the house. He had hardly entered the house when seven children began to talk to him all at the same time; he was forced to use his finger whistle to quiet them.
"Since I heard the word school from each of you I take it your excited about your schools."
"They are." Maria answered for them. "Their principals are very nice and accommodating. Each one will be able to have more time to learn how to speak and read English better."
As soon as her mother stopped talking, Liesl spoke.
"And best of all, Stefan brought home a catalogue from a big store; it has pictures of clothes people wear in America."
"I want to hear from each of you. First, let me go change out of my suit into something more comfortable."
Maria followed Georg upstairs. She didn't need to ask about the admiral's meeting; he told her.
"The admiral wants me to come with him to a government meeting in Washington, DC. It's not far away; a high speed train will have us there in two hours. German submarines have been close to the east coast of the country for many months. They harass and sometimes torpedo cargo vessels. He needs approval before the navy can retaliate."
"Is there going to be fighting here in America, Georg?"
"No darling; but America is being tested. America's navy must find a way to scare them away. And later I'll be traveling to a state in the south which is being terrorized by the Germans. I always said; I wanted to do my part to destroy Hitler and his evil ideas; this is one way I can help. I doubt I'll be gone more than a day or two."
"Yes, I know you want to help any way you can. This is the window God opened for you."
"I believe the same."
During this conversation Georg had taken the items he was going to wear out of the closet and laid them on the bench at the end of their bed. He then sat on that bench to remove his shoes and then his trousers.
The pants he had chosen to wear didn't look formal; they were casual pants. They were a dark color of brown and instead of having tailored pant legs this pair of pants was made with more material; one could stoop, sit or play games without fear of tearing opening a seam.
All the while, Maria was watching her husband. She had never seen him wear anything but a military styled suit.
Now she watched as he removed his tie and unbuttoned the top two buttons of his shirt. He put on a sweater which only had a few buttons. When they were fastened the sweater had a v-shaped neckline. And then he hung his suit in the closet; he would wear it again when he went with the admiral to Washington, DC. And he heard Maria's surprised voice.
"Georg, I never thought I would see you wear something this casual."
"I bought the sweater and pants in Vienna. I saw them on a mannequin in Vienna and Elsa remarked she hoped I would never wear anything like it. I intended on wearing them during her visit but I never had the chance. I never thought the seminary students would pack both of them."
"So now you want to see the children's reaction to it."
"I suppose. Does my wife approve of it?"
"You look handsome in anything you wear."
"And you deserve a kiss or two."
He and Maria shared kisses before leaving their suite. And Maria would tell him about Katia and Isabel later that night.
Maria had to suppress her smile as they joined everyone in the living room. Georg's sweater and pants did not go unnoticed.
He saw google-eyes from his eldest five; he thought their eyes might pop out of their socket they were so large."
"So you don't approve of my attire?"
Louisa ventured an answer. "It's not that we don't approve but it is different."
Kurt followed with this. "Can I have a sweater like yours? I saw a picture in the hall at my school and none of the boys were wearing a coat and tie. Some had on a sweater similar to Father's."
"Well then, I call this my American outfit and yes you boys can buy a sweater like mine."
And sister Liesl told him. "Later we can look in the Sears Catalogue for a sweater like Father's."
"I'm glad that's settled. I believe it's time for lunch. Aren't you hungry Kurt?"
"Yes Katia, I am but I know you have prepared lunch; I can smell it."
"Kurt's correct, Georg. Isabel and I made a trip to the grocery store. We bought ingredients for a chicken vegetable stew. And we baked a big batch of biscuits to go with it."
While Katia was speaking, Franz brought the large pot of stew from the kitchen and set it on top of the buffet. Katia and Isabel each carried a large platter of biscuits and set them on the table.
Father Wasner didn't wait to be asked. He immediately invoked a short grace. And everyone said Amen. Their bowls of stew were served; biscuit platters were passed. And soon the words, I'm full, filled the dining room.
Now Georg invited his children to sit on the floor in front of him as he sat in a comfortable upholstered chair. He had a clear view of their happy faces.
"First I want to hear from Gretl and Marta."
"Father, I'm in first grade but Mrs. Mary may put me in second grade soon."
"And Father, I'm in a class with third and fourth grade children."
"My little girls are growing up on their father." He saw them smile as he remembered Maria's secret.
Brigitta spoke for Kurt. "Father, neither Kurt nor I were intimidated by the size of the junior high school."
And both he and Maria had the same thought. There she goes being precocious again.
She continued. "The principal Mr. Unsworth placed me in the eighth grade and Kurt in the ninth. We can both select electives to take."
"I'm glad you're both so enthusiastic. Now let me hear from my eldest."
Liesl spoke first. "The principal, Mr. Florentine asked me the subjects I had completed. He told me I met the requirements for completing high school. I could take electives along with English classes."
Friedrich told him something similar before he asked
"Father, what did you learn from the admiral?"
"We talked about a lot of things. He asked me to come with him to a meeting in the United States capital tomorrow. It's not far from here. A new high speed train will take us there; I'll be home by dinner time."
Now it was Max's turn to tell about his discovery.
"Georg, everyone, while I was at the music store the owner told me about a concert on Saturday. A visiting choir is performing a concert of Negro Spirituals at the auditorium on the campus of a nearby university.
"The concert begins at three. The university is within walking distance and afterwards I thought we could have dinner at a restaurant. I was told there are several nearby."
"May we Father?" Liesl asked.
"I don't see why not. After all Negro Spirituals are very American."
"Father, maybe we should go to that Sears store and buy something nice to wear; we are also going to need more clothes for school."
"You and your mother can shop while I'm with the admiral tomorrow."
"And we can look through the catalogue and have an idea of what we might buy."
The four girls sat around Liesl on the floor as she turned the pages. The boys weren't interested. To them all pants and shirts were the same. They both went outside with Stefan and Phillip. Georg talked with Franz and Max while Maria helped in the kitchen.
The dinner meal was an Austrian favorite,Wiener Schnitzel. It was served with a salad. And Katia had baked cookies for desert.
And after the dishes were washed, dried and put away, Father Wasner took a seat on the piano bench. He had several sheets of music on the music rack. He started to play Swing low sweet chariot and everyone gathered around the piano.
They sang with him. He set that piece of sheet music a side and before beginning to play the one with the title, Amazing Grace, he told them.
"Everyone, I'm familiar with this song. It was written by two men who each had a lifesaving moment in their lives. The words are like a sermon. It's has the message that forgiveness and redemption are possible regardless of sins committed and that the soul can be delivered from despair through the mercy of God. Let me sing it for you."
The first two words of the song were its title, Amazing Grace. The rest of the verse spoke of a sinner being saved. The next verse was about the two elements of grace. One spoke of teaching one's heart to fear; the other was all about how precious grace was in the hour of belief.
In the next verse the composer spoke of all the dangers, toils and snares which grace would protect a person from as God led them to their everlasting home. The song ended by singing the first verse again.
And like with the first spiritual they learned to sing; this one was just as easy for them to learn. Georg then spoke to his children.
"It sounds like this concert is going to be very enjoyable. Now children, I believe it's your bedtime. Your mother and I will be up shortly to kiss you goodnight."
After they left, Georg spoke to Max. "I predicted you would be totally immersed in American music in a short time."
"This concert isn't all I learned at the music store. I heard records of American male singers. They sing a lot of love songs. And also a new type of music called Jazz. I heard the song, All That Jazz, sung by a woman named Peggy Lee. She's from a city named New Orleans. I was told this music, Jazz, originated there."
"Did you learn anything about singing for military men?"
"Not yet. I'll do some inquiring."
The children were waiting for their parents. Georg had the same reminder for all of them. "Children, tomorrow will come much faster if you go to sleep."
And he heard from all but Marta and Gretl. "We know Father, we'll stop talking soon."
Maria had read the girls a short story; they were both closing their eyes when she quietly said. "The end."
Georg closed the door quietly as they proceeded on to the master suite hand in hand. There Maria spoke.
"You were right, Georg. Both Isabel and Katia know I'm pregnant. Katia had a cup with a tea bag waiting for me this morning. They're going to keep our secret for a while.
"Are you excited about your meeting with the admiral tomorrow?"
"I am and although I'm sure I'll wake up early I'm going to set the alarm clock to wake me at six. A Commander Cummings is coming for me at seven."
"And I expect the children will wake early too. The girls, especially, are looking forward to shopping for new clothes."
"Now it's our time."
"I'm all yours my love."
Soon their hearts were quiet. And the entire second floor was filled with shallow breathing and the occasional snore.
And in the morning Georg woke before the alarm sounded. His intake of a deep breath woke Maria. She made a beeline for the bathroom.
"After I dress, I'll go see Katia and ask her to fix you something to eat. I know she's up. Today the milkman comes; she likes to bring the bottles inside as soon as he leaves them in our milk boxes."
Katia wasn't surprised at Maria's request. It was easy for her to fix a plate of fried bacon, two fried eggs and buttered toast for Georg.
And neither Georg nor Maria was surprised to see the children before he was ready to leave. Everyone heard the doorbell chime promptly at seven o'clock.
"That's my ride. Children, you can come outside and see me off."